Prevalence, Echocardiographic Correlations, and Clinical Outcome of Tricuspid Regurgitation in Patients with Significant Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Abstract

Purpose: We initiated this study to evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of tricuspid regurgitation in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Methods: A single-center analysis of all echocardiographic studies between 2000 and 2013 was performed. Patients with ejection fraction <35% were included, and those with mechanical valves, mitral stenosis, or significant aortic valve pathology were excluded. Patients were grouped based on tricuspid regurgitation severity (nonsignificant, moderate, and severe). Demographic and echocardiographic findings and survival were compared.

Results: The study included 3943 patients (74% male, age 69 ± 14 years); 70% had nonsignificant, 24% had moderate, and 6% had severe tricuspid regurgitation. In a multivariate model, tricuspid regurgitation was independently associated with older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.009; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001-1.017; P = .022), female sex (OR 1.644; 95% CI, 1.329-2.035; P < .001), atrial fibrillation (OR 1.764; 95% CI, 1.429-2.134; P < .001), tricuspid regurgitation gradient (OR 1.051; 95% CI, 1.045-1.058; P < .001 per mm Hg), right ventricular dysfunction (OR 3.492; 95% CI, 2.870-4.248; P < .001), left atrial area (cm², OR 1.031; 95% CI, 1.013-1.049; P < .001), mitral regurgitation severity (P < .001), and lack of hypertension (OR 0.760; 95% CI, 0.616-0.936; P = .010) or obesity (OR 0.583; 95% CI, 0.427-0.796; P < .001). Patients were followed for a median of 8.15 years (interquartile range 4.75-11.42). Median survival was 4.88 years for nonsignificant, 2.3 years for moderate, and 1.6 years for patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation, significantly associated with tricuspid regurgitation severity (hazard ratio 1.513; 95% CI, 1.383-1.656 for moderate, hazard ratio 1.857; 95% CI, 1.606-2.148 for severe tricuspid regurgitation; P < .001), the association persisted after multiple adjustments.

Conclusions: Significant tricuspid regurgitation is common in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. It is linked to various cardiac pathologies and independently associated with increased mortality.

Keywords: Left ventricular dysfunction; Mortality; Prevalence; Tricuspid regurgitation.